The temperatures are cool today and it was a great day to run some errands with Dennis. After burning a lot of shoe leather in Mankato for some simple items at various locations, we came home without. There is the reason why Internet ordering may be on the rise. I need coffee, and I will take what is left of the morning coffee . . . even if it is cold.
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Noreen
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Noreen
A New Addition to Stauffer – Part 2
We did pay the ransom for Butter Ball at the vet clinic. Not a peep out of him all the way home. In times past when it was Honey Bunny’s time in the carrier, she bawled all the way to the clinic and all the way home.
Butter Ball is ready to
take on the world.Just as predicted, the carrier was opened and the cat did scat. Not hide nor hair to be seen or heard of. We left well enough alone as I know the entire procedure and adventure must have been frightening.
Dennis went out to the garage porch after supper and out of the depths of the garage Butter Ball appeared. The gal at the clinic made us aware that Butter Ball would be quite immobile for perhaps the rest of the day. Yeah, right. He was
on the go almost as if experiencing a medicinal high. In days before, Dennis has rescued a tray of garden bulbs that would soon be planted that Butter Ball has also discovered and the tray was put up quite high. Apparently one had succumbed to the playful cat and that was now the center of attention as Butter Ball batted the bulb every which way. We can attest that the medical procedure did not squelch Butter Ball’s enthusiasm.Honey Bunny still does the hiss as she walks by Butter Ball to affirm her being the boss.
Life on Stauffer is back on track.
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Noreen
A New Addition to Stauffer – Part 1
Living on the outskirts of town allows for very quiet backyards. Over time Dennis had noticed some stray cats that would come by to check us out. After he began putting out cat food, they regularly came by for nourishment. In the heart of winter the trail from the east would be evident as they found their way to our patio for food and water from the heated water dish. They had been on their own for so long this was their port in the storm. Appreciative as the cats are for food and water, they have never let us get near enough to touch them.
This spring one of the stray cats that was prone to hanging out in our lilacs brought her kittens to our patio. She must have known the four kittens were more than she herself could take care of. We had no idea where she had birthed them. As quickly as they appeared on our patio for food and water, they would disappear for the day or days. As hard as we would try the kittens refused to have anything to do with us. As sad as it was, the family of four kittens diminished to a family of one. The mother cat continued to come and go with just the single kitten. Dennis noticed that when the kitten became engrossed in playing in the flowers, the mother would take her leave. This began to be a frequent event. She was giving notice that the “mothering days” was over.Day after day Dennis would take time to sit on the patio with ends of rope and try to entice the kitten to interact. Sure enough, the cat whisperer was making headways. One of the doors into the garage porch was left open during the day to see just how curious this kitten would be. We never made any attempt to catch it or chase it. What I didn’t know was that Dennis had put a rug on the floor of the car garage in the event the kitten would wander in and feel safe in the darkness of the garage that is connected to the porch.
I am the last to rise in the mornings. I am barely awake as I stumble out to the garage porch with coffee cup in hand. Not long ago, as I was heading to my rocking chair in the porch to join Dennis, he motioned me with his finger to his lips to peek into the garage. There on the rug was this little yellow ball of fur curled up, napping. Precious.
We have Honey Bunny as a garage cat. Honey Bunny was a kitten brought to our patio from a stray mama cat. She is now four years old and very territorial. We had no idea how it would sit with Honey Bunny to have company in the porch. We decided to let things play out on their own.
Honey Bunny comes and goes from the porch into the gardens at will. We never had any intention to keep the cat penned up and when she had her visit to the vet for shots and to be spayed the claws remained so she could protect herself. Usually Honey Bunny heads for home at night to sleep in her favorite box, which is above the Ford pickup on the rafters.It didn’t take long and the sun beckoned the little kitten to sleep in one of the chairs in the porch. When Honey Bunny strolled in there was hissing and a few howls. The kitten scattered and hid in the garage but never ran outside to run away.
No longer the frightened little kitten, Butter Ball has
flourished and he loves the garage porch.The little kitten is now Butter Ball. Dennis tied a little play fur mouse to an end of string and Butter Ball loves to play with it. Slowly, but totally determined, Dennis has won the heart of his little guy. Butter Ball loves to have his back brushed . . . with Honey Bunny’s brush. One of the screened patio doors is always left ajar and now we have two cats that come and go at will. Butter Ball spends a lot of time in the porch sprawled on any of the chairs as if reminding Honey Bunny just how nice the lifestyle in the porch is.
This morning at eight, Butter Ball was delivered to the vet’s clinic. I played the bad cop of putting her into a carrier. I didn’t want Butter Ball to equate this event to his buddy, Dennis. Butter Ball will have all the necessary shots and be neutered to enjoy a wonderful life here on Stauffer. I think I can safely say a life of leisure in the garage porch with Honey Bunny. Their relationship is mellowing. After all, who is the adult animal caregiver here? Suck it up Honey Bunny.
The mama cat still comes and goes for food and water. She has been visiting us for three years and she may never warm up to us to allow us to touch her. If she did, she also would visit the vet’s clinic. It saddens me to see her carrying kittens when she herself was just a mere kitten when she had her first litter.
At three this afternoon we will go and bring Butter Ball home. I know from previous visits that Honey Bunny has had at the vet’s clinic, the carrier will be opened and the cat will scat and hide from the fright of being in the carrier for a car ride and the procedures at the clinic. More info will follow on Butter Ball and the days here on Stauffer.
In life, please remember to give and have no remembrance of it, or take and remember it always.
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Noreen
Not a lot of activity on Stauffer Avenue today. After a good workout at the Super 8 pool this morning, Dennis and I both took time to check our eyelids for cracks. A nap during the day . . . it’s a good thing.
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Noreen
It was something about cleaning off the spark plugs that prompted Dennis to invite me for a drive in the 1966 Ford Galaxie. What are the chances of literally finding two people to visit with in the wide open spaces of the highway? A short visit and Dennis and I headed back home. We arrived home with the full moon as our chaperon. Super sweet.
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Noreen
I had a two hundred mile road trip today to pay respects to the family of my aunt Elsie Riebe. Visiting with cousins never gets old. We find we have more in common than not . . . and that is love of family ties.
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Noreen
Amazing Helpers
I have shared many projects on this blog. Some have been quite the challenge and some have been downright hair pulling. It’s
no secret that arthritis is my arch enemy. New knees and new shoulders are not the usual and customary prizes at the bottom of the Cracker Jack box. Hands and fingers are not immune, but have no easy solutions. I do know the secret is to keep the hands and fingers moving to keep as much flexibility as possible.
Tools to allow projects to remain enjoyable.
I did take a class at The Old Alley Quilt Shop in the recent past on mitered corners for binding of quilts. After a time the shop owner, Sharon, disappeared and came back with a pair of gloves. I watched in awe as she owned the package and said, “Here, slip these on.” She had watched me struggle to manipulate the bulk of fabric under the sewing machine needle to attach the binding. With the gloves on the gripper fingers amazed me as to the reaction of my actions. I could actually move the layered fabric easily with slight pressure of my gloved hand on the fabric. The rather stiff fingers were getting a huge break.
In early days of quilting the worst part was contending with the weary hands of cutting yards and yards of fabric into pattern pieces with the Fiskars scissors. The motion needed for the scissors over a long period of time warranted a break with ice packs. When I discovered the Fiskars Rotary Cutter, I could go on for hours and not suffer hand cramps. New blades periodically is so worth it.
I have previously posted I was working on a fall wall hanging and the work is progressing nicely. With no preconceived end result, the project just keeps going. A few buttons here and a few beads there and the challenge keeps the project fresh. In time when I run out of buttons, beads or thread, I will deem it done.As long as I continue visiting my sewing room there is no chance for the fingers to let me down. The amount of items that will be cranked out of that sewing room . . . it’s anyone’s guess.
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Noreen
Fleeting Thoughts:
“Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day.” Though it’s thundering and raining I am very thankful we have not had the hail, flooding and high winds that the folks north of us have had. It’s a day to stay indoors.
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Noreen
When It Rains, It Grows
Over the last several weeks we have experienced over seven inches of rain. In the past, August and September were months that the lawnmowers were seldom used. I walked out to check on my two tomato plants and was overwhelmed as to the height of the grass in the yards. Dennis had been called to deliver some concrete supplies for his nephew in Jackson, which is 45 miles away to the southwest. I had not planned on starting to do the yards until he was home, but I knew I had my work cut out for me.
I enjoy doing our original lot with the push mower. The small deck makes for a very nice, even look. Dennis’ rider has a multiple blade deck and it has a tendency to scalp a bit if the ground is not totally even. We had mowed just a week ago yesterday. Today, the mower grunted . . . and I don’t mean my Husqvarna mower, it was me that was grunting. I had all I could do to get through the real thick spots and did many areas taking only a half swat.
Dennis got home from Jackson just as I was finishing the raking of the front yard. I cannot remember a time that I had to rake clumps of grass clippings. Believe me, it did need the raking. Dennis helped with the piles of grass and blew off the driveway and patio before heading to the back garage to get his mower going.
I can say, that last fall we fertilized our original lot and a day such as today was proof of the pudding that it took. It took real well. For this time of the year, our yard has never looked as nice, though needing mowing oftener. The areas of clover and Creeping Charlie are slim to none as the grass has overcome the naughty stuff. We have talked about fertilizing the far east yards this fall after we have seen how much easier the weed control is.
It’s been two hours and it’s time for me to head out east and check on Dennis. As weary as yard work can be, I must say, it is very rewarding for the two of us. You’ve got it. It doesn’t take much to make Dennis and me happy campers here on Stauffer Avenue. It’s a good thing.
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Noreen
Needles and Threads Have No Limits
Beads and a button here and there . . . why not?
I am so fortunate to have my mother Lena, my paternal Grandmother Laura, and my mother-in-law Esther, as resources for my love of needles and threads. Talk about a lifelong passion that does not require a multitude of individuals to pull it all together. This is top dog with me.
I can bounce from counted cross stitch, embroidery, crocheting, hand quilting and machine quilting. Never will you find “boring” in my vocabulary. Resting the eyes . . . oh yes.
I happened upon a printed panel that won my heart during this season of the year. I mulled it over many times before I took needle and thread to it. I decided to do some quilting using beads. I thought back to the days of harvesting pumpkins when the dew was still evident. So the project began, and I will keep you up to speed as I continue with it.
